The spine is an intricate and sophisticated structure. So when things go wrong it requires a unique expertise to diagnose the many and varied conditions that result. We have that expertise, our Chiropractic physicians have spent more than 5 years studying spinal problems and modern treatment strategies.

While there are many fanciful claims made in relation to treating the spine, no single treatment approach is the answer. The bottom line is that it matters less what the clinician is called and more about how up-to-date they are with current advances in research and practice. We maintain a leading edge approach to treatment by keeping abreast of scientific research and it is this that directs our safe state-of-the-art treatment approach.

By making an accurate diagnosis, we can be sure that you are in the right place and that we can give you the best care that science supports. Once we have arrived at a diagnosis we develop a prognosis based on experience and current research. Our prognosis tells us what treatment is required, the duration of the treatment plan and what level of improvement we can expect.

Can a spinal bone really ‘go out of place’ and can discs ‘slip’?

One of the great misconceptions about the spine is that your bones can ‘go out of place’. While true dislocations or sub-luxations (partial dislocations) and fractures do occur as a result of trauma, these injuries are serious and often require hospitalisation. The discs which sit between the spinal bones (vertebra) don’t ‘slip’ out of place. The material that forms the disc can tear slightly causing pain or in more advanced cases material from the inner disc can protrude out and cause symptoms such as pain, numbness or pins and needles in the leg as well as back pain.

So what does happen to the spine?

In truth, there are a myriad of possible forms of spinal problem and each should be treated individually. When the spine becomes painful it may be the result of local tissue damage, perhaps to the lining of a spinal joint or a tear in the fabric of one of the intervertebral discs. Interestingly, such damage doesn’t usually happen as a result of significant trauma. Rather, our patients typically tell us that they suddenly felt pain during some innocuous everyday movement such as ‘brushing their teeth’ or that their discomfort crept up on them slowly ‘for no reason’. So what’s going on here?

In many cases spinal problems develop slowly over time without any clues to their existence – a bit like tooth decay or heart disease. But the ‘problem’ might not be what you think. The real reason that a spine might ‘spontaneously’ become painful has more to do with a loss of spinal control than any loss of strength. The human spine is an incredibly complex and flexible structure that requires precision control if you don’t want to end up injuring it. What’s more, the moment-by-moment orchestration of joint alignment is all done unconsciously – just like the beating of your heart. And, in the same way that people might develop problems with their heart rate or rhythm (a control problem), you may also suffer control problems in your spine. If this happens, then you may well cause tissue damage with a simple movement.

So, spinal manipulation works directly by stimulating the control centres of your spinal cord and nervous system to help them do their job better and allow you to maintain your own spinal control more efficiently. Think of this as the ‘jump leads’ on your neurological engine! Once activated we must strengthen your neurology just like the muscles it controls and so treatment is followed up with tailored exercises to help you challenge and improve neurological control. Think of this as the ‘sloppy’ steering on a 1950’s car versus the ‘super responsive’ steering on a modern Formula One racing car.

Why is a course of treatment necessary?

In many cases you will need a course of treatment. Manipulation of the spine is dose-dependent and its effects are cumulative over time. At The North Wales Spine Clinicwe understand that the key to long-term success is the partnership between our team of professionals and our patients in committing to the treatment protocols. When manipulation is combined with tailored rehabilitation exercises we can achieve a strong and stable spine that will handle the challenges that you and life throw at it.

Thus, having a pain-free and healthy muscular and skeletal system is all about control – and much of the control ‘circuitry’ for your spine resides in the balance centres of your brain. Chronic spinal problems have been shown to involve poor balance and coordination of the spinal muscles. Therefore to help you on your path to recovery we’ll need to identify and address any such issue.

To achieve spinal stability and control is not unlike any other discipline. It takes time to develop, and here at The North Wales Spine Clinic we are experienced in putting together the rehabilitation programs that you need. Furthermore, our dedication to Evidence-Based Practice means that we will measure your progress every step of the way.

Is it possible to be treated too much and too often?

While it is very hard to cause injury through manipulative treatment when performed by a highly trained expert, there must always be an appropriate and rational reason for any clinical recommendation. Manipulation of the spine is a powerful tool and very well supported by the scientific community. However, it needs to be performed by an expert and the amount must be carefully calculated to match the needs of the individual patient. While we admit that science hasn’t yet found all of the answers, using a scientific approach to your care helps us to fine-tune your treatment and closely monitor and measure the results to see what’s working, and what’s not.

Most of the patients visiting The North Wales Spine Clinic have chronic or recurrent problems. In fact, the average length of symptoms prior to seeing us is just over 3 years! As such, we are usually faced with a problem that is ‘multi-layered’. While treating the core diagnosis, such as an intervertebral disc protrusion might be straightforward, dealing with the compensatory changes is not so easy.

Often we find patients have initially sought help in the form of massage, stretching and painkillers. In many cases this is akin to seeing the panel beater to solve a mechanical problem with the engine. Painkillers can also mask symptoms causing more damage to occur over time similar to ignoring the oil warning light in your car! Thus, resolution of the problem is very unlikely and time moving toward a solution gets longer as the problem gets bigger and more difficult to solve.

What factors cause spinal problems?

A core diagnosis – such as a disc lesion, joint arthritis or nerve compression.

An abnormal movement pattern to compensate for the original injury – think of this like the limp that develops when you sprain your ankle, but imagine it never going away.

A balance or control deficit that keeps you always on the edge of further injury.

This highlights how ‘rubbing muscles’, using ‘gimmicky machines’ and/or painkillers can only offer short term pain relief at best while masking the symptoms and offering little long term benefit in terms of a permanent resolution.

Successful treatment and future prevention of your condition involves identifying each of the above components and addressing them all effectively. At The North Wales Spine Clinic this is our passion and our core expertise.

Is it safe?

Yes, you can be confident that our treatments are completely safe. Your safety is our first concern, but this involves more than just the way in which you may be treated.

Firstly, your safety depends upon the accuracy of your diagnosis. For this reason we will not compromise in our initial investigation of your case. Our clinical examination procedures mean that we can be sure that you are being treated in the most appropriate fashion.

Secondly, we work in close co-operation with other medical professionals to ensure that you are appropriately referred if your condition requires another speciality, approach or further investigation.

Finally, spinal manipulation and exercise have proven to be remarkably safe when used appropriately and are extremely powerful tools when combined. The effectiveness and safety of any tool is only as good as the knowledge that underlies its use, and it is this dedication to knowledge that you can rely upon at The North Wales Spine Clinic.